The White Falcon - 12.09.1980, Blaðsíða 4

Page 4
September 12, 1980
HISPANIC
Heritage Week
"Hispanic people have played a distinguished role in the history of
our nation," President Jimmy Carter said in proclaiming the week be-
ginning September 14 as National Hispanic Heritage Week.
"The Hispanic community has given us Generals, Admirals, philoso-
phers, statesmen, musicians, athletes, and Noble prize-winning scien-
tists. Hispanic Americans have contributed gallantly to the defense
of our nation, and many have received the highest decoration our coun-
try can bestow—the Congressional Medal of Honor," Carter said.
Some of the many Hispanic Americans who have served in the Navy are
Edward Hidalgo, Secretary of the Navy; ADM Horatio Rivero, former Vice
Chief of Naval Operations and Ambassador to Spain; CPO John Villarreal
who received the Distinguished Flying Cross twice, the Air Medal six
times, a Purple Heart, and the Presidential Unit Citation three times.
HM3 Phil Valdez, namesake of the USS Valdez, was awarded the Navy
Cross.
Hispanics have played a big role in the formation of our nation as
well. "They founded settlements in Florida and Georgia half a century
before the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts, and were homesteading in
New Mexico more than 150 years before the War of Independence," Presi-
dent Carter said. "The names of scores of American cities and towns—
such as Los Angeles, Albuquerque, San Antonio, and St. Augustine—re-
mind us that many of the explorers and settlers who opened our fron-
tiers were of Hispanic origin."
Hispanic Americans trace their ancestry back to Cuba, Central and
South America, Puerto Rico and Spain. Most immigrants from Cuba came
to the United States after the 1959 communist revolution, and now more
are arriving by boat at Florida. Puerto Rico is a commonwealth asso-
ciated with the U.S., and its people are citizens. Just about every
nation and island in Central and South America has contributed citi-
zens to the U.S., and Spaniards were colonizing vast areas of North
America while English settlements were still outposts.
"Hispanic immigrants
were among the earliest
and now among the most
recent to arrive in this
haven of liberty and human
rights, and I urge all
Americans to reflect on
the invaluable contribu-
tion they have made to the
greatness, the diversity,
and the strength of this
nation," Carter concluded.
"As we enter the 1980's
it is fitting that we
pause to recognize and
celebrate our Hispanic
Heritage."
September
14-20,1980#